Process and apparatus for packaging or baling fibrous materials and the like



June 14, 1966 L. B. sMlTH PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING OR BALING FIBROUS MATERIALS AND THE LIKE Filed June 6, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ,/.njd B. .sm/fh Aorncys co N l\ UN BY June 14, 1966 L.. B. SMITH 3,255,959

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING OR BALING FIBROUS MATERIALS AND THE LIKE Filed June 6, 1965 2 SheetS-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent s 25s 959 PaocEss AND AiPnaTUs Eon Momento on BALING EraRous MArEnrars AND THE LrrrE Lloyd B. Smith, 824 N. 31st St., Birmingham, Ala. Enea time 6, 196s, ser. N6. 266,616 s claims. (ci. 23a-.22)

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for packaging or baling fibrous materials such as cotton, Orlon, nylon, and the like.

In the art to which this invention relates the present standard, commercial way of baling fibers such as cotton and the various man-made synthetic fibers is to press them into bales by means of a power driven reciprocable packer. In an attempt t-o devise a new and better way of baling such materials I have devised a construction for large diameter, high gravity centrifuge-s which is shown, described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 286,849, filed July 10, 1963, Construction for High Gravity Centrifuges and the Like, I have operated a centrifuge embodying the constructional features of said application and which is 42 inches in diameter and which operates at speeds up to 2950 r.p.m. With such apparatus I have successfully baled cotton in 500 pound packages and having a density of around- 24 pounds per cubic feet. When it is realized that a centrifuge of the above size rotating at 2950i r.p.m. has a peripheral speed of about 375 miles per hour, the problem of feeding the fibers to the interior thereof will begin to be understood. First, tremendously fast moving vortexes are developed inside such centrifuge. Second, if the bers are not laid on evenly the unbalance developed will simply cause the apparatus to fly apart. Third, since the fiber must be entrained in a flu-id carrier stream, the separation of the fiber therefrom and subsequent removal of the carrier stream in such manner as not to interefere with the proper building of the bale must be reckoned with. Fourth, the delivery of the fiber into the centrifuge, laying it on evenly and removing the carrier fluid stream must be carried out through a relatively small opening in one end Wall Aor door of the rotating centrifuge.- Fifth, since the volurne of the carrier fluid stream is many times in excess of the volume of the fiber therein, the tremendous total flow of fluid-fiber in unit time requires accurate control at all times over the separation of fluid from the fiber, as well as over the paths of movement of the fluid and fiber into the centrifuge, and the path of movement of the separated fluid from the centrifuge.

By the process and apparatus disclosed herein I have overcome the foregoing and other problems. In another copending application, Serial No. 33,301, filed June l, 1960, Process and Apparatus for Baling Fibers and Bale Formed Thereby now Patent No. 3,133,563 dated May 19, 1,964 I show, describe and claim a process and apparatus for baling fibers. The present application is an improvement upon certain features of the said application Serial No. 33,301.

In view of the foregoing the general and specific objects of my invention are:

(1)'To provide a process of the character described in which fibers such as cotton, nylon, Orlon and the like are centrifugally baled by entraining them in a carrier stream of fluid, introducing the fiber-carrier stream into a large diameter, high gravity centrifuge, and depositing the fibers in such centrifuge so as evenly to build up a bale of the same therein.

(2) Incarrying out (1) above to: (a) separate and remove a portion of the carrier stream from the fibers at a point inside the centrifuge, and

then to separate and remove the remainder of the carrier stream.

3,255,959 Patented June 14, 1966 counterflow direction relative to the initial path ,of

entry of the fluid-fiber stream.

(3) To provide apparatus especially capable of carrying out my improved process and which embodies a feed tube having a discharge opening with means adjacent thereto to `separate the fibers from a portion of the fluidfiber stream, together with means to turn the fiber and the remainder of the fluid stream carrying the fiber toward the periphery of the rotating centrifuge, and other conduits for removing both components of the fluid stream.

(4) More in detail:

(a) to provide apparatus of the character designated in Iwhich the conduits are reciprocated back and forth generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the centrifuge during the baling operation, thereby to lay on v the fibers in even manner and to keep the open ends of the other conduits in position efficiently to remove the -fluid from the inside of the centrifuge.

(b) to associate with the discharge end of the fluid-fiber conduit a flow directing member which is movable into and out of flow directing po-sition relative to the fluidfiber stream issuing from the conduit as the conduit reciprocates, whereby the entraining fluid outwardly of the discharge end of the conduit is directed along a path located axially inward of the path of the fiber relative to the ends of the centrifuge.

(c) to provide a common, reciprocable unit embodying fluid-fiber delivery, partial fluid stream removing, and remaining fluid stream removing or scavenging passages, all in one unit, which unit also carries the movalble member mentioned in (4) (b) above, thus simplifying the construction and operation of the apparatus.

(d) to provide apparatus for centrifugally baling fibers in which densities on the order of 30 pounds per cubic foot may be obtained.

Apparatus illustrating the constructional features of my invention and which also is suitable for carrying out my improved process is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section and showing somewhat in diagrammatic form my improvedV feed mechanism for a centrifugal baling apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and drawn to an enlarged scale; and,

FIG. 3 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line 3--3 of FIG. l and drawn'to an enlarged scale.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention I show somewhat diagrammatically lat 10 the rotating portion of a large diameter, high gravity centrifuge. It will be understood that the centrifuge 10 embodies an outer shell portion 11 and the radial or end portion 1.2. The shell i-s connected to the radial portion 12 by the improved pin construction or connecting means shown in my application Serial No. 69,649, now aban doned, whereby the shell 11 is free to grow or expand in diameter in response to the tremendous centrifugal force imposed thereon. Further, such connecting means maintains the shell always centered relative to the radial driven.

At the opposite end of the centrifuge is a removable door 18. The door 18 may be equipped with centrifugal latch pins 19, these being more particularly shown and described in my Patent No. 3,133,563. Sulllce it to say here that the door 1S is removable to permit removal of the bale formed inside the centrifuge, and that the centrifugal latch pins hold the door locked in place when the centrifuge is rotating. It will further be noted that the door 18 is provided with a centrally located opening 21, the purpose of which will later appear.

From what has been described it will be seen that the radial portion 10, the door 18, and the shell portion 11, when assembled as shown in FIG. 1, provide a material receiving compartment C. Furthermore, in actual use,

'- there may be placed in the compartment C a package of suitable material such as kraftboard, it being understood that the package embodies a rearmost disc portion 22 lying adjacent the inner side of the radial portion 10, a cylindrical outer portion 23 which lines the inside of the shell portion of the compartment, and an outer disc portion 24 lying immediately next to the inside of the door, and having a hole corresponding in shape and aligned with the opening 21 in the door.

Mounted in front lof the centrifuge, that is, infront of the door 18, is a supporting framework 26 having thereon a pair of tracks 27. Mounted on wheels 28 which run on the track is a carriage 29. Mounted adjacent the lefthandmost end of the track as seen in FIG. 1 is a doubleacting lluid pressure cylinder 31 having a piston rod 32 and a piston 33. The piston rod is connected at 34 to the left-handmost end of the carriage 29. A valve 36 which may be manually operated is effective to admit fluid selectively to the end of the cylinder 31 from a source of supply, not shown, delivered to the valve through a conduit Mounted on the carriage 29 is an axially elongated tubular sleeve 38. Mounted for reciprocatory movement relative to the sleeve is a ber-lluid stream delivery and fluid stream removing unit indicated generally by the numeral 39. As best shown in FIG. 3 the unit 39 is divided into three separate, conduits 41, 42 and 43.

The outer end 42a of the conduit 42 is slidably received within a conduit 44 through which the fluid-borne stream of brous material is delivered into the centrifuge as will presently appear, from a source, not shown.

At the inner or delivery end of the conduit 42 is a substantially right-angled elbow section 42b which is ellective to turn the material flowing into the conduit 42 at right angles to its initial path of movement and toward the periphery of the outer wall of the centrifuge.

Pivotally mounted adjacent the discharge end of the conduit 42, and substantially at the end of the right-angled elbow section 42b thereof, is a plate member 46, pivoted at 47 to move from the full line position shown in FIG. 1 to the dotted line position shown therein, as will later appear. The uppermost wall of the conduit 41 is provided with a plate 48, spaced from the plate 46 and also spaced substantially midway across the width of the duct 43, thereby to provide separate passages 49 and 51. Thus, the passage 49 is located between the member 48 and the movable member 46 while the passage 51 is located between the baille 48 and the curved wall 42C of the angled or elbow portion of the duct or conduit 42.

Connected to the plate or baille member 46, and depending below the pivot point 47 thereof, is an arm 52. The arm 52 is pivot-ally connected at 53 to a push-pull rod 54. The push-pull rod is bent downwardly and inwardly as shown at 56 and is pivotally connected at 57 to another arm 58 which in turn is pivoted at 59 to a bracket 61 outstanding from the rear wall 62 of the unit 39 and which serves to close the rear ends of the conduits 41 and 43. The rod 58 is pivotally connected at 6l? to a link 63 in turn pivotally connected at 64 to a bracket 66 upstanding from the carriage 29.

Depending from the lower wall portion of the unit 39 is a lug or bracket 67. Pivotally connectedv to the bracket is a piston rod 68 of another double-acting lluid pressure cylinder 69. A valve 71, which may be automatically operated by means not shown is effective to admit pressure rst to one end of the cylinder 69 and then to the other, in sequence, thus to reciprocate the entire unit 39 in the Sleeve bearing 38. It will be noted that the unit 39 has an outer circular shell 70 of a diameter to fit it rather snugly in the opening 21 of the door 18. Connected to a suction outlet opening 72, in communication with the conduit or passage 41 is a flexible hose 73. In like manner, a flexible hose 74 is connected to a suction opening 76 in communication with the conduit or passage 43. The hose 73 and 74 connect to sources of negative pressure indicated diagrammatically by the numeral 77, which in practice may be a common suction fan.

From the foregoing the method of constructing my improved apparatus and carrying out my improved process may now be explained and more fully understood.

With the centrifuge turning at a rate to produce baled fibers on the order of 2O to 30 pounds per cubic foot, as desired, the fibers, as in the case of cotton, Orlon, nylon and the like, are entrained in a lluid stream, such as air or the like. Such air-borne or flud-borne stream of bers is introduced into the central conduit 42. By means of the Valve 71 the entire unit 39 is reciprocated slowly back and forth, on the order of about two cycles per minute. With the air-borne or gaseous-borne stream of fiber moving along in the entrance portion of the duct 42 at about 4,000 feet per minute, as such stream approaches the elbow part 42h, the ber, being heavier, tends to separate from at least a part of the carrier fluid stream as shown in FIG. l. At this point, and due to the baille plate 48, a portion of the carrier stream is removed through the conduit 41 and tube 73, and this action is aided by the maintenance of negative pressure in the duct 41 by the suction fan 77, generally on the order of 10 inches on the water gauge.

With the unit 39 in the position shown in full lines, that is, at its left-handmost positionvrelative to the opening 21 in the door 18, it will be seen that the baille member 46 forms generally a continuation of the inner or longer wall lof the elbow 42h, whereby the liber stream is turned back upon itself, that is, blown forwardly of the centrifuge, to engage or strike the disc insert 24 adjacent the door 18. At this point the remainder of the carrier fluid air stream indicated *by the arrows A crosses the path of the fiber and is directed outwardly and toward the axial center of the space C in the centrifuge. Due to the linkage arrangement shown, as the unit 39 moves to the right, the plate 46 gradually moves until, at the right-handmost end of the stroke of the unit 39, the baille plate 46 assumes the dotted line position shown in FIG. l. In this position it will be seen that the `baille is withdrawn out of llow affecting position relative to the stream of liber and that the remainder of the fluid carrier stream indicated by the arrows A-l in this position does not have to cross the fiber stream, but at the same time separates from the liber and moves to the left, also axially inward of the space C. The remainder of the carrier stream indicated by the arrows A and A-l is removed as indicated by the arrow A-2 through the conduit 43, thence by the llexible hose 74, this being aided by the negative pressure maintained in the passage 43 by the suction fan 77. I have found it advisable to provide a depending plate 43a, spaced from the inlet opening of the passage 43. The plate appears to aid in removing the carrier stream from the centrifuge.

With a centrifuge on the order of 42 inches ininside diameter and operating at the speed stated, and with the tremendous volumes of the lluid-borne stream llowing into the centrifuge, there are developed tremendous vortexes and whirlwinds inside the rotating space C. By my irnproved process and apparatus I am enabled to lay on the fibers accurately and evenly, without this operation being affected by such vortexes and whirlwinds. By reciprocating the entire unit 39 back and forth, I assure an even laying on of the fibers whereby the bale is built up from the outside inwardly, thus to maintain the apparatus in dynamic balance. It will be understood that when the total desired weight of fiber to form the-bale has been placed in the centrifuge, there remains a hole at the center, all the way from the front to the back of the space C. Once the bale is finished valve 36 is actuated, thus withdrawing the entire carriage, including the sleeve bearing 38 and hence the entire unit 39 to the left as viewed in FIG. 1, permitting the door 18 to be removed, whereby the entire package with the fibers therein may be removed from the centrifuge proper.

In actual tests I have found that my improved apparatus is extremely effective. As stated, I have successfully baled 500 pound bales of cotton, Orlon, nylon, and like fibers, the package being 40 inches in diameter, by 30 inches long, thus -resulting in a density on the order of 24 pounds per cubic foot. To obtain greater densities it is only necessary to increase the speed of the centrifuge. If desired, the centrifuge space C may be equipped with a pusher at the rear to push out the package after the door is removed, all as is shown in my said Patent 3,133,563.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications wihtout departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. The process of depositing fibers and the like within a cylindrical centrifuge which comprises:

(a) rotating the centrifuge about its longitudinal axis,

(b) entraining the fibers in a carrier stream of fluid,

(c) directing the fluid-borne stream of fibers into the rotating centrifuge along a path generally parallel with the axis of rotation 4of the centrifuge,

(d) turning the fluid-borne fiber stream generally normal of its original path of flow after it is inside the centrifuge,

(e) separating and removing from the centrifuge a part of the carrier fluid from the fibers adjacent the point of change of di-rection of the fluid-borne stream,

(f) reciprocating the point of impact of the fibers within the centrifuge along the rotational axis of the centrifuge, thereby evenly to deposit'the fibers in the centrifuge, and

(g) removing the remainder of the carrier fluid from the centrifuge as the fiber is deposited in the centrifuge.

2. The process of claim 1 which embodies the further step of turning the remainder of the fluid-borne stream back upon itself more than 90 from its original direction of flow adjacent the point of discharge while the fiber is being deposited on one axial extent of the centrifuge, and as the point of impact of the fiber shifts to another axial extent of the centrifuge, changing the direction of flow of said remainder of the fluid-borne stream to approximately 90 from its original direction of flow at the point of discharge.

3. The process of forming a bale of fibers in a centrifuge having a cylindrical material-receiving compartment comprising:

(a) rotating the centrifuge about its longitudinal axis,

axial extent of the centrifuge while the remaining fluid-fiber stream is issuing therefrom,

(g) turning the remaining fluid-fiber stream after separating some of the fluid as stated in (d) above, at an angle greater thanV to the axis of rotation of the centrifuge while the discharge end of the conduit is at one end of its reciprocatory stroke, and

(h) turning the fluid-fiber stream after separating some of the fluid as stated in (d) above approximately 90 to the axis of rotation of the centrifuge while the -discharge end of the conduit is adjacent the other end of its reciprocatory stroke.

4. The process of forming a bale of fibers in a cylindrical centrifuge comprising:

(a) rotating the centrifuge about its longitudinal axis,

(b) entraining the fibers in a carrier st-ream of fluid,

(c) moving the fluid-borne stream through a conduit having a discharge end located inside the centrifuge,

(d) separating a portion of the carrier fluid from the fiber adjacent said discharge end of the closed conduit and removing the portion thus separated from the inside of the centrifuge,

(e) reciprocating the discharge end of the conduit generally along the axis of rotation of the centrifuge,

(f) discharging the fibers and the remaining portion of the fluid stream towa-rd the periphery of the centrifuge in such manner that the fiber separates from the remainder of the fluid carrier stream, and

(g) removing the remainder of the fluid carrier stream from the inside of the centrifuge through a second conduit having an inlet opening inside the centrifuge.

S. In apparatus for feeding fluid-borne material to the interior of a rotating centrifuge,

(a) a feed tube having a passage for a commingled stream of fluid and material,

(b) means adjacent the discharge end of the feed tube in the path of the stream to turn the stream abruptly from its direction of flow in the tube,

(c) means in the path of the stream after the first named means, to divide the commingled stream into a fluid stream and a material stream borne along by less volume of fluid than initially was in the feed tube,

(d) a fluid conduit having itsinner end in communication with the feed tube adjacent the point where said means in the tube causes the abrupt turn in the stream and located in position relative thereto to receive the stream of fluid separated from the commingled stream, and

(e) a second conduit connected to the interior of the centrifuge and affording means for the escape of the remainder of the fluid component of the commingled stream which separates from the material incident to deposition of the material in the centrifuge.

6. In apparatus for delivering a fluid-borne stream of material against the inner periphery of a rotating centrifuge,

(a) a feed tube for the commingled fluid-material stream projecting into the centrifuge adjacent the rotational center thereof,

(b) means adjacent the discharge end' of the tube in the path of the stream to turn the stream abruptly from its direction of flow Within the tube :and toward the periphery of the centrifuge,

(c) a movable member forming a continuation of the discharge end of the passage in the tube and effective when the feed tube is in one axial position relative to the centrifuge periphery to cause the material to move t-oward one en-d of the centrifuge,

(d) means adjacent the centrifuge to reciprocate the feed tube from an outer position adjacent the front of the centrifuge to an inner position adjacent the rear of the centrifuge, and

(e) means pivoted to the tube effective to move said member out of passage-continuation position relative material against the inner periphery of a rotating centrifuge,

(a) a feed tube for the fluid-material stream projecting into the rotating centrifuge adjacent the-center of rotation thereof and having a -discharge end inside the centrifuge,

(b) a substantially right turned elbow on the discharge end of the feed tube effective to turn the moving stream toward the periphery -of the centrifuge,

(c) a plate-like member movably mounted on the tube and projecting past the discharge end thereof and effective to further turn the stream in the same direction as it is turned by the elbow in the feed tube,

(d) means adjacent the centrifuge to reciprocate the feed tube along the axial extent of the periphery of the centrifuge, and

(e) means pivoted to the tube to move said member away from the position affecting ow of the stream 8 when the tube is in one axial position in the centrifuge to a position out of flow-affecting position when the tube is in another position in the centrifuge, -whereby the material is deposited substantially uni- Iformly against the periphery of the centrifuge as the tube reciprocates relative to the centrifuge.

8. Apparatus as dened in claim 7 in which the means to move said member is operable concomitantly with rmovement of the feed tube in a manner gradually to move said member from its two positions, one of which positions is substantially at one extreme position of travel of the tube and the other of which positions is substantially at the opposite extreme position of travel of the tube.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1957 Cornell 233-28 X 5/1964 Smith. 

5. IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING FLUID-BORNE MATERIAL TO THE INTERIOR OF A ROTATING CENTRIFUGE, (A) A FEED TUBE HAVING A PASSAGE FOR A COMMINGLED STREAM OF FLUID AND MATERIAL, (B) MEANS ADJACENT THE DISCHARGE END OF THE FEED TUBE IN THE PATH OF THE STREAM TO TURN THE STREAM ABRUPTLY FROM ITS DIRECTION OF FLOW IN THE TUBE, (C) MEANS IN THE PATH OF THE STREAM AFTER THE FIRST NAMED MEANS, TO DIVIDE THE COMMINGLED STREAM INTO A FLUID STREAM AND A MATERIAL STREAM BORNE ALONG BY LESS VOLUME OF FLUID THAN INTIALLY WAS IN THE FEED TUBE, (D) A FLUID CONDUIT HAVING ITS INNER END IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE FEED TUBE ADJACENT THE POINT WHERE SAID MEANS IN THE TUBE CAUSES THE ABRUPT TURN IN THE STREAM AND LOCATED IN POSITION RELATIVE THERETO TO RECEIVE THE STREAM OF FLUID SEPARATED FROM THE COMMINGLED STREAM, AND (E) A SECOND CONDUIT CONNECTED TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CENTRIFUGE AND AFFORDING MEANS FOR THE ESCAPE OF THE REMAINDER OF THE FLUID COMPONENT OF THE COMMINGLED STREAM WHICH SEPARATES FROM THE MATERIAL INCIDENT TO DEPOSITION OF THE MATERIAL IN THE CENTRIFUGE. 